AUBURN – As winter continues to hit us with its barrage of rain, snow and frigid cold, our need to unwind with some great live music grows. Just as we’re all ready to head south, one of today’s hottest female blues singers is set to perform locally. New York-based Nicole Nelson will be at the Midnight Blues Club and Restaurant Sunday, kicking off the 2006 Sunday Night Blues Series with her incredible voice and accompanying band.
Tickets are $8 and can be reserved by calling the club.
Nelson was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., into an artistic family. Her father’s family traces its roots back to Ireland and Norway, her mother was born in Trinidad. With such a variety of cultures within her own family and surrounding her in New York, Nelson found herself deeply in love with music, fine art, literature and poetry.
It was in this worldly atmosphere that Nelson began to weave the threads of classic songs into a tapestry of her own style. Her music has a comforting, familiar sound, yet it’s distinctly unique within today’s contemporary blues scene.
Nelson got her first opportunity on stage at the tender age of 3. The reaction at that church recital proved to be the first of many standing ovations she would receive. In 2000, she was in Boston auditioning for the Broadway musical “Rent,” when she was persuaded by her roommates to sing at a local blues jam.
At that jam session, she met guitarist Brad Faucher, who soon introduced her to Boston’s roots music scene. She became a regular at many of the city’s open-mike jams, honing her skills and drawing a great deal of attention. In 2001, she entered and won the famed Boston Blues Challenge and went on to place third in the International Blues Competition.
She has graced the covers of such publications as the Boston Globe and Boston Blues Magazine. Nelson’s live performances on the WGBH program, “Blues After Hours,” brought positive reviews. In 2002, she was nominated for a Boston Music Award, as well as being nominated three years running (2002-2004) for Boston Phoenix/FNX Music Poll’s “Best Blues/R&B Act.” Nelson recently moved back to New York City, back to the place that set her creative force in motion. The result is a new depth to her voice, and a wonderful new magic to her songs.
The Sunday Night Blues Series was created in October 2004 with the goal of bringing nationally known blues artists to central Maine. Following a successful debut, the series continued through 2005, bringing the top acts in blues to the Twin Cities. While there will be a few subtle changes for 2006, the series will continue to deliver world-class blues to area fans.
Tickets for all 2006 Sunday Night Blues Series shows will range from $8 to $15. This year, Maine blues enthusiasts can enjoy these national artists in two locations. Midnight Blues in Auburn will continue with its 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday evening shows, while the new club in Waterville will feature the same band on Tuesday nights. The Midnight Blues Club and Restaurant is at 34 Court St. in Auburn, and at 2 Silver St. in downtown Waterville.
FMI: www.3clubs.com.
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